I did not grow up with Lent. In fact, I’m not sure I even knew what “giving something up for Lent” meant until I read the story of the Von Trapp Family Singers (the family Sound of Music was based on). Maria gave up sweets, or maybe it was just chocolate, for Lent. And I read that book sometime in early high school I think.
Lent was something “those Catholics” did. Not something us enlightened and freed from the law Protestants participated in. I had a lot to learn.
In college I heard a lot about different takes on Lent – all from Protestant Christian types. They talked about using the Lenten season to re-connect with God, to re-focus. And so they suggested ADDING something to our lives. Like focusing on a sense of gratitude during Lent, or taking 30 minutes out of our day to spend quietly before the Lord, and many other cool ideas.
At that time, I didn’t care enough. The first time I can remember giving something up for Lent was when I was in Bahrain. The girls I taught with and I gave up chocolate….sorta…kinda…maybe. I tried anyway. About three years ago I wanted to participate in this season, but knew I needed to keep it do-able. So, I turned off the radio in my car and didn’t turn it back on until after Easter. I tried to use the time to pray, but often became convicted of how easily my thoughts wander. But somehow, the quiet is good for me, even if my thoughts don’t stay focused in prayer. So it’s become a tradition during Lent.
This year is interesting, because while I’ve always driven a lot, I am driving like three or four times the distance than I have been, due to how far away the Seminary is from my home. And so I live in silence for at least an hour a day…or relative, busy-road silence anyway. And I cannot tell you how good that has been for my soul!
Noise adds so much clutter to our lives. It often does an amazing job of cancelling out God’s voice in our lives. And I haven’t done any studies on the subject, but I bet minds that have quiet as part of their daily routine are incredibly healthier than those that are constantly bombarded by music and noise.
But I also added something this year, mostly because the idea that the idea that my body is God’s temple, and so I need to take care of it as such, has been niggling at the back of my mind for months now. Not that I have been abusing my body, per se. At least, not anymore than the normal American. But I do eat way more sugar than my body needs, and, indeed, over the last four months or so, I’ve come to notice how dependent I am on it. Whenever I’d get stressed or tired or wanted to write or stay awake during class, I suddenly craved chocolate, or doughnuts or a mocha, or maybe ice cream. If I was hungry for a snack, I’d grab something sweet.
A desire for dependency on God and not myself or things in my life has been growing. So, with that two-fold goal of treating my body with better respect and with wanting to be more dependent on God during my times of stress and tiredness, I decided to give up sugar – to the best of my abilities. I’m pretty sure to completely go off of refined sugar I’d have to only eat meat, veggies and fruits. And I’m not going that extreme. But I’m giving up everything that I can that I know has sugar in it. AND IT’S CRAZY HOW MUCH DDOES!!!!
And while I do have sugar cravings every now and then (and fully expect them to get worse), it’s good. I can’t say I’ve noticed any major difference in my body, but I no longer beat myself up for eating sugar. And really, at least for now, that’s not the point.
But the coolest part of giving up sugar, is how present God is in my thoughts these days. When I choose to eat a certain way that is radically different than how I was eating, then everything I put in my mouth is suddenly a very conscious choice…which reminds me of God, of His love, and who He is. And what He’s done for me. Which is the point of this season.
And that is worth it.
So, take some time this Lenten season (so, from now until Easter, April 20th) to remember God. To be silent and listen. And maybe, if you’re brave, ask yourself what you’re depending on instead of Christ.